Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser cutting technology for cutting and separating thin substrates of transparent materials, for example to cutting of display glass compositions mainly used for production of Thin Film Transistors (TFT) devices. The described laser process can be used to make straight cuts, for example at a speed of >1 m/sec, to cut sharp radii outer corners (<1 mm), and to create arbitrary curved shapes including forming interior holes and slots. A method of laser processing an alkaline earth boro-aluminosilicate glass composite workpiece includes focusing a pulsed laser beam into a focal line. The focal line is directed into the glass composite workpiece, generating induced absorption within the material. The workpiece and the laser beam are translated relative to each other to form a plurality of defect lines along a contour, with adjacent defect lines have a spacing of 0.1-20 microns.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for separating substrates are disclosed, as are articles formed from the separated substrates. A method of separating a substrate having first and second surfaces includes directing a beam of laser light to pass through the first surface and, thereafter, to pass through the second surface. The beam of laser light has a beam waist located at a surface of the substrate or outside the substrate. Relative motion between the beam of laser light and the substrate is caused to scan a spot on a surface of the substrate to be scanned along a guide path. Portions of the substrate illuminated within the spot absorb light within the beam of laser light so that the substrate can be separated along the guide path.

Abstract: A method for preparing gelatinized pre-oriented filaments and the gelatinized pre-oriented filaments prepared by the method are provided. The method includes feeding a spinning dope into a twin-screw extruder for blending and extruding the spinning dope to obtain a first spinning solution having a non-Newtonian index of 0.1-0.8 and a structural viscosity index of 10-50, feeding the first spinning solution into a spinning box and drawing at a spinneret with a factor of 5-20 to obtain a second spinning solution, and flash cooling and curing the second spinning solution to obtain the gelatinized pre-oriented filaments. Also provided are a method for preparing ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers prepared by the method.

Abstract: A method of forming a coating layer on a glass substrate in a glass manufacturing process includes: providing a first coating precursor material for a selected coating layer composition to at least one multislot coater to form a first coating region of the selected coating layer; and providing a second coating precursor material for the selected coating layer composition to the multislot coater to form a second coating region of the selected coating layer over the first region. The first coating precursor material is different than the second precursor coating material.

Abstract: A method for supporting a heated glass sheet in connection with a glass processing operation may include adjusting a support structure so that multiple spaced apart support members of the support structure cooperate to define a shape that corresponds to a desired end shape of the glass sheet. The method may further include contacting the glass sheet with the support members until the glass sheet has been sufficiently cooled. Furthermore, the support structure may include a frame and a support assembly associated with the frame, the support assembly including the support members and a support connected to the support members such that at least a portion of each support member is adjustable with respect to the support. The support may further be connected to the frame at two locations on the frame such that the support spans an open area between the two locations on the frame.

Abstract: A method for fabricating three-dimensional microstructures is presented. The method includes: disposing a substantially planar reflow material between two molds; heating the reflow material while the reflow material is disposed between the two molds; and reflowing the reflow material towards the bottom surface of one of the molds by creating a pressure gradient across the reflow material. At least one of molds includes geometrics features that help to shape the reflow material and thereby form a complex three-dimensional microstructure.

Abstract: Methods for stripping an optical fiber coating using blue or blue-violet radiation are disclosed. The method includes irradiating a portion of the coating with at least one radiation beam having a processing wavelength in the range of 400 nm to 460 nm for which the coating is substantially transparent. The intensity of the radiation beam exceeds the optical-damage threshold of the coating, and thereby a damaged coating portion that absorbs radiation at the processing wavelength is formed. The damaged coating portion is then irradiated with the radiation beam having an intensity below the optical-damage threshold to cause the damaged coating portion to absorb the radiation and to subsequently heat up and disintegrate to expose a section of the central glass portion of the optical fiber.

Abstract: Provided herein are novel tools and methods for the formation of vessels having sculpted interior and exterior forms. Novel high-temperature non-woven textile forms may be used to create a glass vessel having a three-dimensional sculpted interior of almost any shape. The non-woven textile forms may also be used as molds to artfully sculpt bottle exteriors. The invention allows for unprecedented control over the form of glass objects in an industrially scalable process.

Abstract: A glass sheet used in the making of an aircraft windshield is shaped using the “cut-to-size” method instead of the “cut-after-bend” method. In a preferred aspect of the invention the “cut-to-size” method is practiced using a bending iron having a sheet shaping rail having a stationary shaping rail portion mounted on a support member and an articulating shaping rail portion pivotally mounted on the support member for movement from a non-shaping position to a shaping position.

Abstract: A method and device for separating a substrate with a laser beam. The duration of the laser beam's effect is extremely short, so the substrate is only modified concentrically about the laser beam axis (Z) without it degrading the substrate material. While the laser beam acts upon the substrate, the substrate moves relative to a laser machining head, producing plural filament-type modifications along a separating surface to be incorporated. The laser beam is initially diverted by a transmission medium having a higher intensity dependent refractive index than air, then reaches the substrate. The non-constant pulsed laser intensity increases to a maximum over the temporal course of the single pulse, then reduces, and the refractive index changes. The laser beam focus point moves between the substrate's outer surfaces along the beam axis (Z), reaching the desired modification along the beam axis (Z) without correcting the laser machining head in the z-axis.

Abstract: Provided is a cutting method for a glass sheet, comprising radiating a laser beam to a cutting portion (C) of a glass sheet (G) having a thickness of 500 ?m or less to fuse the glass sheet (G), wherein a narrowest gap between fused end surfaces (Ga1 and Gb1) of the glass sheet (G), which face each other in the cutting portion (C), is managed to satisfy a relationship of 0.1?b/a?2, where “a” is a thickness of the glass sheet (G) and “b” is the narrowest gap.

Abstract: An optical fiber base material manufacturing apparatus including a reaction chamber; a burner that has a portion thereof inserted into the reaction chamber through an insertion opening that creates a connection between the inside and outside of the reaction chamber, and emits a flame toward a starting member positioned within the reaction chamber; and a seal connection member that creates an air-tight seal between the burner and the reaction chamber at the insertion opening. One end of the seal connection member firmly contacts the burner inserted therethrough, another end of the seal connection member firmly contacts the reaction chamber and has a through-hole formed therein through which the burner is inserted without contacting the seal connection member, and the seal connection member includes a connecting portion that connects the one end to the other end, while preventing transfer of stress between the one end and the other end.

Abstract: A portion of a submerged combustion burner is disposed into a pressure vessel. The portion of the submerged combustion burner has a welded area that has a first microstructure defined by a first number of voids. The vessel is filled with an inert gas, pressurized, and heated. Pressurizing and heating operations are performed for a time and at a temperature and a pressure sufficient to produce a second microstructure in the welded area of the burner. The second microstructure is defined by a second number of voids less than the first number of voids.

Abstract: A method for producing a transparent thermoplastic resin pellet comprising a step of kneading a transparent thermoplastic resin with a kneader under a condition under which a damage history calculated according to the following formula is 500 to 2,500: Damage history={Residence time (tr)}×{Shear rate (?)} Residence time (tr)=(W×H×L)/Q Shear rate (?)=(?×D×N)/H in the formulae, W represents a screw groove width (pitch) [cm]; H represents a screw groove depth [cm]; L represents a screw length [cm]; Q represents a resin supply amount [g/s]; D represents a screw diameter [cm]; and N represents a screw rotation number [rps].

Abstract: A method of making a strengthened glass article. The method includes altering the glass structure and subsequently creating a compressive layer extending from the surface of the glass to a depth of layer. In some embodiments, the structure is altered by heat treating the glass at a temperature that is less than the annealing point of the glass, and the compressive layer is formed by ion exchange. A strengthened glass article made by the method is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of fabricating an improved lithium silicate glass ceramic and to that material for the manufacture of blocks for dental appliances using a CAD/CAM process and hot pressing system. The lithium silicate material has a chemical composition that is different from those reported in the prior art with 1 to 10% of germanium dioxide in final composition. The softening points are close to the crystallization final temperature of 800° C. indicating that the samples will support the temperature process without shape deformation.

Abstract: A method for forming a hollow cylinder, in a single step or in as small a number of steps as possible, into a quartz glass tube with a large outer diameter and high dimensional stability is provided. The cylinder, while rotating about a rotation axis, is softened in portions in a heating zone which is moved at a relative feed rate Va, and the softened portion is radially expanded by a centrifugal force and/or an internal overpressure applied in the hollow cylinder bore so as to form a deformation zone. The tube is continuously shaped with an outer diameter D2 which is greater than that of the hollow cylinder D1. The radial expansion of the softened portion is carried out at a location-dependent radial expansion rate Vr, the profile of which along the deformation zone has a maximum value Vr,max which is smaller than two times the feed rate Va.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a curved glass sheet is provided. The method includes: providing a mold and a furnace; placing the mold in the furnace, the mold including a first mold, a second mold, and a mold core, the first mold defining a receiving space; a bottom surface in the receiving space defining at least one guiding groove, a bottom surface in the at least one guiding groove defining at least one air outlet, the mold core defining a mold cavity and a plurality of micro-holes; placing a raw glass sheet on the second mold; controlling a temperature in the furnace to heat the raw glass sheet; extracting air in the receiving space of the mold via the at least one outlet, to force the raw glass sheet to bend until contacting a bottom surface in the mold cavity; and cooling the mold to form a curved glass sheet.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present method of laser cutting a laser wavelength transparent glass article comprises feeding at least one glass article to a pulsed laser assembly having at least one pulsed laser, wherein the pulsed laser defines a laser beam focal line with a length of 0.1-100 mm, the glass article being comprised of two end sections, and at least one lateral surface disposed lengthwise between the end sections. The method further comprises laser cutting at least one perforation line onto the lateral surface of the glass article while there is relative motion between the glass article and the pulsed laser and separating the glass article along the at least one perforation line to yield a laser cut glass article.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process for cutting and separating arbitrary shapes of thin substrates of transparent materials, particularly tailored composite fusion drawn glass sheets, and the disclosure also relates to a glass article prepared by the method. The developed laser method can be tailored for manual separation of the parts from the panel or full laser separation by thermally stressing the desired profile. The self-separation method involves the utilization of an ultra-short pulse laser that can be followed by a CO2 laser (coupled with high pressure air flow) for fully automated separation.